Cable release locking device and receptacle therefor



Dec. 5, 1961 n. w. PRICE EI'AL 3,011,239

CABLE RELEASE LOCKING DEVICE AND RECEPTACLE THEREFOR Filed Aug. 1a, 1958 |4 2) J 5 a l4 2 2 l2 1 4s 64 64 e 42 I so 4 5e 52 4 H l2 g l l I! 54 72 I l 74 74 48 l I 76 48 48 4a 36 30 66 2e 56 IO I I8 64 I so '2 7o 72 wr- 5 mvmons DUANE w. PRICE s2 F DAVID z. CHAPMAN 76 2 48 BY THEIR ATTORNEYS 78 HARRIS, KIEOH, FOSTER 8| HARRIS Stes land

Filed Aug. 18, 1958, Ser. No. 755,776 5 Claims. (Cl. 24-211) The present invention relates to locking devices of the detent type and, more particularly, to a readily releasable locking device and/or receptacle therefor.

With regard to the locking device, the present invention contemplates one which includes: a barrel having inner and outer ends; at least one detent carried by the barrel adjacent the inner end thereof and movable laterally inwardly and outwardly relative to the barrel between inner, retracted and outer, extended positions, the detent projecting laterally from the barrel when in its extended position; a stop carried by the barrel adjacent the outer end thereof and facing the inner end thereof, the stop being spaced longitudinally of the barrel from the detent; a pin having inner and outer ends and movable axially of the barrel toward the outer end thereof from an operative position to an inoperative position; means on the pin adjacent the inner end thereof for moving the detent into its extended position when the pin is in its operative position, the detent being movable into its retracted position when the pin is in its inoperative position; spring means acting on the barrel and the pin and biasing the pin toward its operative position; and actuating means for moving the pin from its operative position to its inoperative position in opposition to the action of the spring means.

A primary object of the invention is to provide a locking device of the foregoing nature wherein the actuating means comprises a flexible cable connected to the outer end of the pin and projecting from the outer end of the barrel and capable of accepting a pull force for moving the pin from its operative position to its inoperative position in opposition to the action of the spring means.

An important feature of the foregoing cable release for the locking device is that the cable is capable of accepting pull forces having substantial lateral components, as well as pull forces having only axial components. Thus, it is immaterial whether the means, manual or otherwise, for applying the pull force to the cable is located on the axis of the locking device, or considerably to one side of the axis thereof, which is an important feature. I An importantobject of the, invention is to provide the barrel with an outer end which diverges axially outwardly and which is arcuate and convex in longitudinal section, the cable engaging such axially outwardly divergent, longitudinally convex outer end ofthe barrel when the means for applying the pull force to the cable is located to one side of the axis of the device more than a predetermined amount. This configuration for the outer end of the barrel always permits the cable to move in response to a pull force to move the pin from its operative position to its inoperative position, even when the means for applying the pull force to the cable in such a position that the pullforce acts at right angles to the axis of the device, or even at an angle of more than 90 to the axis thereof.

Another object is to provide an annularsea't-for the spring means of the device which is located axially inwardly of the outer end of the barrel and which also diverges axially outwardly and is arcuate and convex in longitudinal section, the cable being engageable with the axially outwardly divergent, =longitudinally convex spring seat, as well as with the axially outwardly divergent, lon- 3,011,239 Patented Dec. 5, 1961 gitudinally convex outer end of the barrel, when the means for applying the pull force to the cable is located sufficiently oif axis.

Another and important object of the invention is to provide a receptacle for the locking device which is engageable by the detent or detents thereof and which includes spring means for biasing the locking device out of the receptacle, which spring means insures removal of the locking device from the receptacle even when the means for applying the pull force to the releasing cable acts at an angle of 90 or more to the axis of the device.

' More particularly, an object of the invention is to provide a receptacle having inner and outer'ends and having a bore adjacent its outer end and a counterbore adjacent its inner end, the receptacle having at the junction of such bore and counterbore an'annular'shoulder facing the inner end of the receptacle and engageable by the detent or detents on the locking device to prevent withdrawal of the locking device from the receptacle when the detent or detents are in their extended positions.

Another object is to provide a receptacle having a spring seat therein which is movable axially between a retracted position adjacent the inner end of the receptacle and an extended position adjacent the outer end thereof, the spring means of the receptacle being seated on the receptacle and on the spring seat and acting to bias the spring seat toward the extended position thereof. The

spring seat is engageable by the inner end of the barrel of the locking device and is moved from its extended position to its retracted position by the locking device as the latter is inserted into the receptacle to engage the detent or detents thereon withthe annular shoulder within the receptacle.

A further important object of the invention is to provide a spring seat which is of telescopic construction and which includes inner and outer telescopically connected,

"its retracted and extended positions with a minimum receptacle length, which is an importantfeature.

The foregoing objects, advantages, features and results of the present invention, together with various other objects, advantages, features and results thereof which will be evident to thoseskilled in the art to which the inven- 7 tion pertains, may be achieved with the exemplary embodiment of the invention described in detail hereinafter and illustrated in the accompanying drawing, in which FIGS. '1, 2 and 3 are Views, partially in longitudinal thereof, designated by the numeral 12, is insertable. The.

receptacle 10 is shown as externally threaded for threaded insertion into any suitable structure, not shown, and is 1 provided with sockets 14, only one of'which is visible,

to receive lugs on a spanner wrench, not shown.

The receptacle 10 is provided with inner and outer ends 16 and 18 and is provided therein with a bore 20 adjacent its outer end and a counterbore 22 adjacent its inner end, there being an annular shoulder 24 at the junction of the or springseat 28 carried by the inner end 16 of the receptable.

The spring seat 26 includes two telescopically connected elements 30 and 32 respectively slidable in the bore 20 and the counterbore 22, the element 30 being cupshaped and having an external annular flange 34 which is engageable with an internal annular flange 36 on the element 32, the flange 36 being seated on the annular shoulder 24 when the spring seat 26 is in its extended position. Relative telescopic movement of the elements 30 and 32 in one direction is limited by engagement of the flanges 34 and 36, such movement thereof in the opposite direction being limited by engagement of the flange 34 on the element 30 with an internal annular flange 38 on the element 32. In the particular construction illustrated, the internal annular flange 38 comprises a snap ring. 7

The spring seat 26 is constantly biased toward its extended position by a spring means, shown as comprising a compression spring 40, seated against the closure 28 and disposed in and seated against the bottom of the cupshaped element 30.

It will be noted that, as the spring seat 26 is moved from its extended position to its retracted position, the element 30 moves out of the bore 20 and is supported only by the element 32 in the counterbore 22, cocking of the element 30 relative to the element 32 under such conditions being prevented by engagement of the flange 34 with the element 32 and engagement of the. flange 36 with the element 30, as Will be clear from FIG. 3.

The advantage of the foregoing telescoping construction of the spring seat 26 is that the contraction thereof as it moves toward its retracted position materially reduces the total length of the receptacle 10 needed to provide a predetermined range of axial movement of the element 30, as compared to the axial receptacle length which would be required if the elements 30 and 32 were not telescopically connected. At'the same time, the telescopic interconnection between the elements 30 and 32 provides adequate support for the element 30 when it is' withdrawn from the bore 20. Thus, the telescoping spring seat 26 minimizes the axial length of the receptacle 10 for a predetermined range of movement of the spring seat between its extended and retracted positions, while atthe same time providing adequate support for the springseat to prevent binding thereof in the receptacle 10, which are important features.

Turning now to a consideration of the locking device 12' insertable' into the receptacle 10, the locking device includes a barrel 42 having inner and outer ends 46 and 48, the inner end thereof being convergent to facilitate insertion into the receptacle 10. The barrel 42 is provided at its outer end 48 with a cylindrical enlargement or head 50 which provides an external annular shoulder 52 engageable with the outer end 18 of the receptacle 10 to act as a stop for limiting insertion of the barrel into the receptacle. The head 50 is provided therein with an external annular groove 54"by means of which any suitable structure, not shown, may be mounted on the locking device 12' for connection to the structure on which the receptacle 10 is mounted.

The barrel 42 is provided adjacent the inner end 46 thereof Withradial holes 56 for ball detents 58 which are movable laterally inwardly and outwardly between inner, retracted positions, FIG. 2, and outer, extended positions,

FIGS. 1, 3, and 4. Loss of the detents 58 from the holes 56 is prevented by peening or staking the barrel 42 adjacent the outer ends of such holes, as indicated at 60.

Reciprocable in the barrel 42 and extending into a counterbore 62 in the head 50 of the barrel is a pin 64 having an inner end 66 of reduced diameter to receive the ball detents 58, as shown in FIG. 2, to permit them to move inwardly into their retracted positions. The reduced-diameter inner end 66 of the pin 64 is in register with the holes 56 to permit the detents 58 to move Laterally inwardly into their retracted positions when the pin is in what will be referred to hereinafter as an inoperative position relative to the barrel 42, such inoperative position of the pin being shown in FIG. 2 of. the drawing. When the pin 64 is in its operative position, shown in FIGS. 1, 3 and 4 of the drawing, a portion 68' thereof of a diameter exceeding that of the inner end 66 registers with the holes 56 to move the detents 58 laterally outwardly into their extended positions, the portion 68 of the pin thus serving as a means for extending the detents.

The pin 64 is provided at its outer end with a head 70 which is disposed within the counterbore 62 and which is engageable with an annular shoulder 72 at the inner end of the counterbore .62 to limit inward movement of the pin 70. The pin 70 is biased inwardly toward its operative position by a compression spring 74 disposed within the counterbore 62 and seated at one end against the head 70'. The other end of such spring is seated against an annular spring seat 76 disposed within the counterbore 62 adjacent and axially inwardly of the outer end 48 of the barrel 4-2, the spring seat 76 being held'in place by a snap ring 78. It will be noted that the spring seat 76 projects inwardly beyond the inner periphery of the snap ring 78.

In order to move the pin 64 to its inoperative position to permit lateral inward movement of the detents 58 into their retracted positions, the head 70 on the pin 64-is provided with an eye 80 to which is connected a flexible cable 82 formed of any suitable material, such as metal, nylon, or the like. As will be apparent, a pull force applied to the cable 82 moves the pin to its inoperative position in opposition to the action of the spring 74, thereby permitting the detents 58 to move laterally inwardly into their retracted positions.

An important feature of the invention is that the cable permits the utilization of a pull force which is non-axial, i.e., it permits the utilization of means, not shown, con nected to the cable and capable of applying a pull force thereto, which is located to one side of the axis of the locking device 12.

To prevent binding of the cable 82 relative to the outer end 48 of the barrel 42when the pulling means is located to one side of the axis of the locking device 12, the outer end of the barrel diverges axially outwardly and is arcuate and convex in longitudinal section, as shown in the drawing. Thus, when the pulling means attached to the cable 82 is located a suflicient distance to one side of the axis, the cable 82 is trained around the convex surface provided by the outer end 48 of the barrel 42 to prevent binding.

To further prevent binding, the spring seat 76 is similarly axially outwardly divergent and arcuate and convex in longitudinal section, thereby providing a convex surface around which the cable 82 may be trained and which cooperates with the outer end 48 of the barrel 42 to hold the cable out of engagement with the spring 74 and the snap ring 78 for retaining the spring seat 76..

With the foregoing construction, the pulling means connected to the cable 82 may exert a pull force on the cable which is at an angle of as much as or more, to the axis ofthe locking device 12, which is an important feature.

Considering the joint operation of the receptacle 10 and the locking device 12, the locking device 12 is inserted into the receptacle 10 by engaging the inner end '46 of the barrel 42 with the element 30 of the spring seat 26, the element 30 having a recess 84 therein to receive the inner end of the pin 64, which projects beyond the inner end of the barrel slightly when the pin is in its operative position. By pushing inwardly on the head 50, and simultaneously pulling on the cable 82 to move the pin 64 into its inoperative position so that the detents 58 may move laterally inwardly into their retracted positions, the barrel 42 may be inserted into the receptacle 10, as shown in FIG. 2. As the barrel 42 is inserted into the receptacle, the spring 40 in the receptacle is com pressed and the elements 30 and 32 of the spring seat 26 move telescopically relative toeach other into a contracted relationship, as shown in FIG. 2. Upon sufiicient insertion of vthe barrel 42, the spring seat 26 arrives at its fully retracted postion, as shown in FIG. 3, and the detents 58 move past the annular shoulder 24 within the receptacle 10. If the pull force on the cable -82 is now released, the spring 74 moves the pin 64 to its operative position to move the detents 58 laterally outwardly into their extended positions, these detents now engaging the annular shoulder 24 to retain the locking device 12 within the receptacle 10. FIG. 3 of the drawing shows the locking device 12 inserted into and locked in the receptacle 1 0. g g, a

An important feature of the invention is that when the pin 64 is moved into its inoperative position by a pull force on the cable 82 in detaching the locking device 12 from the receptacle 10, the spring 40 of the receptacle automatically ejects the locking device fromthe receptacle. Thus, it is not necessary to rely on the pull force applied to the cable 82 to withdraw the locking device 12 from the receptacle and the spring 40' will eject the locking device even if the pull force applied to the cable is substantially perpendicular to the axis of the receptacle and the locking device.

Although an exemplary embodiment of the invention has been disclosed herein for purposes of illustration, it 'will be understood that various changes, modifications and substitutions may be incorporated in such embodiment without departing from the spirit of the invention as defined by the claims which follow:

What is claimed is:

1. In a locking device, the combination of: a barrel having inner. and outer ends, said outer end of said barrel diverging axially outwardly and being convex in longitudinal section. a detent carried by said barrel adjacent said inner end thereof and movable laterally inwardly and outwardly relative to said barrel between inner, retracted and outer, extended positions, said detent pro jecting laterally from said barrel when in said extended position; a pin having inner and outer ends, said pin being disposed within said barrel and being movable axially of said barrel toward said outer end thereof from an operative position to an inoperative position; means on said pin adjacent said inner endthereof for moving said detent into said extended position when said pin is in said operative position, said detent being movable into said retracted position when said pin is in said inoperative position; spring means engaging said barrel and said pin adjacent said outer ends thereof and biasing said pin toward said operative position, said barrel providing axially inwardly of said outer end thereof an annular seat for said spring means which also diverges axially outwardly and'is convex in longitudinal section; and a flexible cable connected to said outer end of said pin within said barrel and projecting from said outer end of said barrel and capable of accepting a pull force for moving said pin from said operative position to said inoperative position in opposition to the action of said spring means, said cable being engageable with said axially outwardly divergent, longitudinally convex outer end of said barrel and with said axially outwardly divergent, longitudinally convex spring seat.

2. In combination: a barrel having inner and outer operative position; means on said pin adjacent said inner end thereof for moving said detent into said extended position when said pin is insaid operative position, said detent beingmovable into said retracted position when said pin is' in said operative position; spring means engaging said barrel and said pin adjacent "said outer ends thereof and biasing said pin toward said operative position, said barrel providing axially inwardly of said outer end thereof an annular seat for said spring means which also diverges axially outwardly'and is convex in longitudinal section;-a flexible cable connected to said outer end of said pin within said barrel and projecting from said outer end of said barrel and capable of accepting a pull force for moving said pin from said operative position. to said inoperative position in opposition to the action of said spring means, said cable being engageable with said axially outwardly divergent, longitudinally convex outer end of said barrel and with said axially outwardly diverextended position thereof to said retracted position therea gent, longitudinally convex spring seat; a receptacle having inner and outer ends and having therein an annular.

'said inner end of said barrel being engageable with said spring seat upon insertion of said inner end of said barrel into said receptacle to move said spring seat from said of; and spring means engaging said spring seat and said receptacle for biasing said spring seat toward 'said extended position thereof, whereby to bias saidbarrel toward said outer end of said receptacle when said inner end of said barrel is in engagement with said spring seat.

3. In combination: a receptacle having inner and outer ends and having therein an annular shoulder facing said inner end thereof; a telescoping spring seat in said receptacle and movable axially thereof between a retracted position wherein it is adjacent said inner end of said receptacle and is spaced from said annular shoulder, and an extended position wherein it is adjacent said outer end of said receptacle and is seated on said annular shoulder, said spring seat including at least two telescopically connected elements, the elements being contracted when said spring seat is in its retracted position; spring means seated on said spring seat and said receptacle for biasing saidspring seat toward said extended position thereof;

and a locking device engageable with said spring seat andinsertable into said receptacle and having at least one detent which is movable laterally inwardly and outwardly between retracted and extended positions and which is seatable on said, annular shoulder when it is in said extended position thereof, said'spring seat being in said re- 7 ed: elements respectively slidable in said bore and said counterbore, said spring seat being movable between a retracted position wherein it is adjacent said inner end ofv said receptacle and is spaced from said annular'shoul der, and an extended position wherein it is adjacent said outervend of said receptacle and is seated on said annular shoulder, said spring seat being. contracted when in its retracted position; and spring means seated on said-spring seat. and. said receptacle for biasing said spring seat towardqsaid extended position thereof.

5.v A. releasable locking assembly comprising in combination: a receptacle having inner and outer ends and having therein an annular shoulder facing said inner end; a spring seat in said receptacle and movable axially thereof between a retracted position whereinit is adjacent said inner end and is spaced from said annular shoulder, and an extended position wherein it is adjacent said outer end and is seated on said annular shoulder; spring means seated on said spring seat and said receptacle for biasing said spring seat outwardly toward the extended positionthereof; and a locking device engageable with said spring seat and insertable into said receptacle, said locking device including a barrel, at least one detent in said barrelmovable inwardly and outwardly between retracted and extended positions, an axially movable pin within said barrel and spring biased toward said inner end of said receptacle for retaining said detent outwardly of saidv barrel in locking engagement with said annular shoulder,

said pin having a reduced diameter portion to permit -retraction of said detent upon withdrawing said pin, and

tension means for withdrawing said pin outwardly to per-' mit retraction of said detent whereby said locking device is released and ejected from said receptacle under the combinedeffects of the outward pull on said pin and the outward bias of said spring. seat.

References Cited in the file of .this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 

